BHATTIMA: A LITERARY STUDY

‘Bhattima’ in general
term is a prayer song paregoric sung in adoration of the lord worshipped or the
preceptor. A particular class od singers known as “Bhata” has been in service
of such regular singing in ancient India who in pursuit of glorify lord
Krishna-Rama and sometimes the kings of the locality performed the most
important jolon propagating
in public ‘Bin Bairagies’ of Assam did sing the songs pertaining to spiritual
appreciation of bodily existence.

‘Bhatta’ is a word
originated in Sanskrit ‘Bhat’ and a class of these singers sang the ‘Bhattimas’
from the ancient time in India. Sankardeva in his pursuit to propagate the Neo
Vaishnaism wrote a number Bhattimas as an instrument fit for the Ankiya
Bhawnas. Sankardeva originally classified the Bhattimas in these, sections
namely (i) Deba Bhattima, (ii) Naat Bhattima and (iii) Raj Bhattimas.
Madhabdeva the main disciple of Sankardeva added the Guru Bhattimas in praise
of his Guru Shree Sankardeva and has changed the basic these of Assamese
Bhattima the prayer song. Naat Bhattimas were written in good numbers and were
considered as significant part of the Akia Naat. They are lyrical narrative and
meaningful songs- sung by the actors along with satra dhikar. Sankardeva has
written altogether twenty tow (22) numbers Deba Bhattimas of which on (i) in
Sanskrit two (2) in Brojawali, (19) nineteen other- Naat Bhattimas – such as
two (2) from Patni Prasad, two (2) from Kalidaman, two (2) from Keli Gopal,
Four (4) from Rukmani Haran, three (3) from Parijat Haran, Four (4) from Ram
Bijay and two (2) numbers of Raj Bhattimas.

In each of Sankardevas
Ankia Naat there is a Deba Bhattima at the beginning and Mukti Mangal Bhattima
at the end. Some of these Bhattimas that are played in dramatic sequence may be
called as dramatic (Natakiya) Bhattima or intimate (Antaranga) Bhattimas these
songs.

In Ankia Nata Bhattimas
have been sang to described the Characteristic significancants of the main
characters of the drama. Sankardeva has made it a rule that there should have
atleast three such Bhattimas one in the beginning one somewhere in the middle
the other at the end in form of Muktimangal Bhattima. Krishna, Rama, Rukmini,
Sita were the characters that the dramatist urges the audience to sang and
offer prayers in gratitude of the Lord Krishna and Rama. The Sutradhara –
dances expressing them.

Origin
of Bhatimas:
The creation of Bhatimas has become one of important work in the Assamese
literature and cultural history. In 15th century Shankardeva,
Madhabdeva and other Vaishnavite perception have begun to write Ankia Naat and
alosng with them the Bhattimas also came begin. In around 1467-1470 when
Sankardeva wrote the first Naat Patni Prasada – the first Bhattima has been
composed “Jaya Jaya Jadaba” and Ashoka bana Mahala Murari were these two
Bhattimas – He has written twenty two numbers of Bhattimas were written, which
has been followed by Madhabdeva, who wrote ten number Bhattimas. Including the
Guru Bhattima Madhabdeva has written eleven numbers of Bhattimas in total.

After Sankaradeva and
madhabadeva many of his disciples hand written Bhattimas and around sixty
numbers of Bhattimas were all together. Witting of the Bhattimas have been an
important land mark in the history of lyrical literatue. It has been an
established truth that these Bhattimas have augmented in the popularizing the
Ankiya Naat as an important aspect of the Neo Vaishanite religion. Even tnough
lots of Bhattimas written in Saachipat and Tutapat have been recovered, no
notes written on the form – structure and literary criticism of the Bhattimas
are found anywhere. No original printed books have been found. Sahitya Ratna
harinarayan Dudda Baruah and Satradhikar Purna Kanta Deba Goswami in their
edited books – Sri Shankar Vakyamrit (1953), Shri Shri Madhavadeva Vakyamrit
(1980) have printed out fine and nine numbers of Bhattimas respectively. In the
eighty and nineties of the last century Late Satradhikar Joykanta Goswami of
Shri Shri Syamkanu Sattra of Jagiroad preserved as many as sixty Bhattimas,
which were collected and their collection of an edited book of sixty number
Bhattimas could be made possible.

Literary
value of Bhattimas:
Bhattimas occupy a separate identity in the history of Assamese literature. The
poets and writers contribute their imaginary objective as per the need of the
time as per them capability – they added the literary ornamental to the
literary form and a correct estimation of these Bhattimas have now become most
necessary.

Subject
matter of Bhattimas:
Main aim and objective of writing the Bhattimas in the Ankiya Naat was to
influence the audience and drama lovers with the characteristic specification
of Krishna Rama Vishnu as special kings and women characters as general.
Bhattima has been one of the main instruments in establishing Bhakti Tattwa in
the minds of audience.

Guru Bhattimas has been
the creation of Madhabdeva the sole associate of Shankardev. Madhabdev at the
highest position as Guru and the uncreation of Lord Krishna himself. Here,
Madhabeva’s appreciation of the personality of Shankardeva, his establish of
the Guru as the Lord Krishna himself in perfect terms and description were
complete. Deva Bhattimas were basically written at the beginning of the Ankiya
Naats as a prayer on behalf of the audience to the Lord. Naat Bhattimas are
basically the description enclosure in order to argument the need of the
dramatic sequence. The Raaj Bhattimas on the other hand were written in praise
of Kuch Emperor Naranarayan.

About the author:Dr. Giri Kanta Goswami,
author of the above article entitled as “The Works of Sankaradeva: A Linguistic
Study”, is Associate Professor of Nagaon College, Assam and acting
Supervisor of Ph.D. in the Department of Assamese, Gauhati University.
Already five Research Scholars have been awarded Doctor of Philosophy Degree
and ten Research Scholars are doing research works for Ph.D. degree under his
supervision...[Read more]

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